Those White Sox fans who complain (see: me) about there not being much of anything around U.S. Cellular Field?

Well, according to WBBM, there might be plans in the works to change that.

As WBBM’s Steve Miller reports exclusively, there’s a plan to put a restaurant and retail shops on 35th Street across the street from U-S Cellular Field.

Under the plan, the block where the original Comiskey Park once stood could become home to an entertainment complex that would hopefully bring more fans out to see White Sox games.

“Hopefully a couple of restaurants, a sports bar and some retail,” said Perri Irmer, CEO for the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the developer and owner of U.S. Cellular Field. She said they’re studying “various funding options” for the building.

While I’m certainly on board to make the area around the stadium more fan-friendly, a place with some atmosphere instead of parking lots, there can be a downside here. Sure, adding in some of this stuff might make fans come earlier and stay later, might make the Cell more of a destination spot, but if this project just serves to add in a chain restaurant or two without any local/neighborhood flair, it cheapens the experience.

Take Wrigleyville: sure there are some chains near the stadium, but there’s also the Cubby Bear, Murphy’s Bleachers, etc. These are establishments that give the neighborhood more of an identity. If the Sox aren’t able to add in anything more that what you’d see in a suburban mall — Applebee’s or something like that — it might upset some South Side purists, those that take pride in not attracting anyone other than a “true” fan. Also, I’m not sure you can just create a new unique neighborhood spot and have people jump on board. Those things take time to curate.

But whatever: I’ll take something down on the South Side over nothing.